Tim Stewart (NSW), Matthew Griffin (VIC), Rick Kulacz (WA) and Andrew Dodt (QLD) Australia&aposs best male golfers are in Tasmania this week for the Interstate Teams Matches at Launceston Golf Club and the Interstate Colts Teams Matches at Mowbray Golf Club. The events are being played concurrently, giving each state the chance to showcase their best players while also allowing their developing players to gain experience at an elite level. The Interstate Teams Matches were first played in 1904 and have seen the likes of Greg Norman, Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby pass through the ranks making it one of the nation&aposs premier amateur events. Also, with the Interstate Colt&aposs Teams Matches in its 14th year, the stage is set for these events to become a cornerstone of Australia&aposs elite golf development. The New South Wales team is hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins after claiming honours the past two years at McCracken Country Club in South Australia and Royal Fremantle Golf Club in Western Australia. The team arrived in Launceston boasting five National Squad players including Captain Tim Stewart who was runner-up in the 2007 British Amateur and Australian Amateur Champion Rohan Blizard. Queensland also arrived for the Series stacked with talent, featuring players such as Ray Beaufils, prodigious young talent Daniel Nisbet and Australian Amateur Stroke Play Champion Andrew Dodt. Victoria is being led by Josh Younger and also contains the likes of fellow National Squad member Matthew Griffin and Leigh Deagan. South Australia&aposs title bid will be spearheaded by Jarrad Roxby while John Cassidy and his Tasmanian troops will be aiming to win their state&aposs first Series since 1977. Perhaps the only thing standing between New South Wales and three consecutive titles however is the force of Western Australia. Although not winning the event since 1999, the boys from across the Nullabor will be looking to claim the silverware this time around when Rick Kulacz leads his team into battle. The 22-year old recently won the Scratch Players Championship in the United States and with players such as Michael Foster and Matt Jager by his side, Western Australia should be considered genuine contenders. The New South Wales dominance is also evident in the Colts Series with the title heading to Sydney four times in the past six years. Victoria went into this year&aposs Series as defending champion but the boys from New South Wales are desperate to wrest the title back from their rival&aposs grasp. This is not to say the other states won&apost be in the running however as they will be just as determined to send the trophy to a new home in 2007! Golf Australia would to thank John Fennell, President of Golf Tasmania, Launceston Golf Club and its President Martin Brown as well as Mowbray Golf Clubs and President Adrian Dennis for working together to make the combined staging of these events a reality. Both courses have been immaculately prepared and an exciting week of golf is currently underway in the Apple Isle! Golf Australia would also like to thank the Australian Sports Commission for their continued support of the game at all levels. Keep your eye on www.golfaustralia.org.au for latest updates, scores and information.
Author: